Pubdate: Thu, 01 May 2003
Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON)
Copyright: 2003 The Ottawa Citizen
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326
Author: Jim Bronskill, Janice Tibbetts
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

U.S. SAYS CANADA CARES TOO MUCH ABOUT LIBERTIES

Terrorism Report Also Says Too Little Spent On Police

The United States says the lack of funding for police and restrictive 
privacy legislation in Canada are frustrating probes of political extremists.

The comments in an annual report on international terrorism were the latest 
critical remarks from the U.S. apparently aimed at prodding Canada to bring 
its security measures in line.

The State Department report on global terrorism for 2002 suggests that 
while Canada has been helpful in the fight against terrorism, it doesn't 
spend enough on policing and places too much emphasis on civil liberties.

It says "some U.S. law enforcement officers have expressed concern" about 
Canadian privacy laws.

The U.S. officers feel those laws, as well as funding levels for law 
enforcement, "inhibit a fuller and more timely exchange of information and 
response to requests for assistance," the report says.

"Also, Canadian laws and regulations intended to protect Canadian citizens 
and landed immigrants from government intrusion sometimes limit the depth 
of investigations."

Under the U.S.-Canada Terrorist Interdiction Program, known as TIP, Canada 
records about one "hit" of known or suspected terrorists a week from the 
State Department's visa lookout list. The initiative involves software that 
enhances the ability of border officials to collect, compare and analyse 
traveller data, allowing them to identify and track people of interest.

Spokesmen for the Solicitor General's Department were not available to 
comment on the report.

The U.S. observations come amid heightened tension between the two 
countries following Washington's public expression of disappointment that 
Canadian forces did not join the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

In releasing the report, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said although 
there has been great progress in the last year, terrorism still "casts its 
grim shadow" across the globe.

The number of terrorist attacks dropped to 199 in 2002 from 355 the 
previous year. Still, Mr. Powell noted, assaults occurred in every region 
of the world, claiming 725 lives. Terrorist bombings in Bali last fall 
killed about 200 people from two dozen countries, including Canada.

Despite the report's criticism of certain Canadian practices, it included 
effusive praise for the federal government's overall efforts to work with 
the U.S. in the fight against extremism, calling the relationship "a model 
for bilateral co-operation on counter-terrorism issues."

Seven American law-enforcement agencies have posted officers to Ottawa and 
other Canadian cities, while a number of Canadian personnel are assigned to 
the U.S.

The report also notes Canada's passage of anti-terrorism legislation, its 
move to create a formal list of terrorist organizations and participation 
in various international anti-crime forums.

The comments follow State Department remarks in a March report on narcotics 
and money laundering that urged Canada to ensure privacy protection 
measures do not prevent the timely sharing of financial information that 
might be critical to police investigations.

The same report took issue with Canada's move to make possession of small 
amounts of marijuana a ticketing offence rather than a criminal one. "This 
will not only harm Canadian society, but have consequences for the United 
States as well," the report said.

Justice Minister Martin Cauchon reiterated yesterday that legislation to 
decriminalize marijuana will be tabled soon, while Canadian Alliance Leader 
Stephen Harper said the move would inflame tensions with the U.S.

"Now would not be the time to irritate trade relations and we've already 
had plenty of warning that this would do just that."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager